THREE international election observer groups have been in touch with the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and over 100 international observers are expected to be on the ground on May 11.GECOM’s Chairman, Dr. Steve Surujbally, told the Guyana Chronicle that over 20 observers are expected from the Organisation of American States (OAS), while approximately 60 are expected form the Carter Centre and over 20 are expected from the Commonwealth.
To date the Carter Centre is expected to field the largest mission for the upcoming polls.
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the United Nations and the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), which have accepted Central Government’s invitation to act as electoral observers, are still to indicate the size of their contingents.
Additionally, 10 local groups have been accredited by GECOM as local observer groups and include the United States of America Embassy, the British High Commission, the Canadian High Commissions, the European Union (EU) country office, the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Blue Caps, the International Republic Institute (IRI), Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) and the Electoral Assistance Bureau (EAB).
All observers, local and foreign, will be required to sign onto certain protocols before they are accredited as observers.
These protocols outline the roles and functions of the observer groups.
Relative to foreign observers, the missions, according to the protocol, will be expected to adhere to more than 35 guidelines. In addition to the guidelines, the rights and privileges of accredited election observer groups were also outlined in the protocol.
Similar rights and guidelines apply to local observer groups, which were detailed in a separate document seen by this newspaper.
Under the Election Law (Amendment) Act No. 15 of 2000, Section 20 states that: “The Commission may approve of local organisations observing the democratic process involved in any election provided such organisations fulfill such conditions as may be stipulated by the Commission.”
Both protocols, for foreign and local observer groups, state clearly that if GECOM considers that an observer group “willfully, without restraint, overtly and/or with malice aforethought breached the modus operandi and protocols” outlined by the Commission, GECOM has the authority to and may rescind/withdraw its accreditation from the individual errant observer or even from the entire observer mission.
GECOM has established around 2,299 polling stations throughout the country for the May 11 General and Regional Elections.
By Vanessa Narine